My First Attempt at a Joiner's Mallet

This was my first project started and was my first project that wasn’t exclusively done with power tools. I have a lot to learn about hand cutting mortises (which is evident by my use of wedges to tighten the fit of the glue up. It’s ugly as sin, but seems strong. I used a hatchet to split the rough handle from a split log of fire wood and I used a miter box to cut the head out of another log of firewood. I squared it all up on the table saw and then broke out the block plane, chisels, pocket knife, rasp, files and sandpaper to cut the mortise, shape the tenon, chamfer the edges of the head and round off the handle.

I don’t think it would make Mr. Underhill proud, but it was the first of many learning experiences ahead of me as I get deeper into woodworking.